Spark-plug.



A. ECKHARDT.

SPARK PLUG. APPLlcATloN FILED oc.8. 1914.

patented Nov. 29, 1915*.

drum

' rinirnn errar ne learner prision.

ADoLrH ncxHAnnr, or sUrrcN, NEBRASKA.

SPARK-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Nov. e, 191.5.

Application filed October 8, 1914. Serial No. 865,728.

To all whom t may concern Be it known Ithat I, ADOLPH ECKHARDT, citizenof the United States, residing at Sutton, in the county of Clay andState of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpark-Plugs, of

.which the following is a specification.

v This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sparkplugs for internal combustion engines and has as its primary object toprovide a spark plug having a plurality of sparking points and whereinthe spark gaps orthe distance between the sparking points may besimultaneously adjusted. l

The invention has as a further object to provide an improved device ofthis character including an integrally formed electrode which will bedetachably connected to the plug and which will provide a plurality ofsparking points having sparking terminals detachably connected theretoto the end that either of said terminals may be selectively removed tobe replaced by anew' terminal, or, on the other hand, that the entireelectrode including its terminals may be removed. And a still furtherobject of the invention is to provide an improved spark plug o1 theabove described character A including an electrode having a plurality ofsparking points and provided with a. single terminal by which the saidelectrode may be connected with a suitable source of electrical energy.V

With these and other objects in view my invention will be more' fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs and thenspecifically-pointed out in the claims which are attached tovand form apart 0f l' ferred to in the following description indicated'in all theviews of the drawings by the same reference characters.

vthis application.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure Iis a vertical sectional view of myimprovedA spark plug showing the parts thereof in as` fsembledrelation,,specti've View and Fig. 2 isa detail perof the electrode carried by theinsulating member of the plug and showing the said electrode detached. y

Corresponding and like parts are re My improved spark plug is especiallydesigned for use upon `internal combustion engines to have detachableconnection with the cylinders thereof to communicate with the ignitionchambers of the engine in the usual manner.. More particularly, the plugincludes a metallic shell 10 which is reduced intermediate its ends toprovide an internal annular shoulder 11, the reduced extremity of theshell being externally screw threaded as at 12 to engage within asuitable threaded bore formed in an engine cylinder. 'At its upperextremity, the shell 10 is provided with a squared head 13 disposed forengagement with a wrench or other tool.

Seated within the shell 10 is an insulating plug or member 14 which maybe formed of porcelain or any other suitable material. Formed on theplug 14 intermediate its ends, is an annular shoulder 15 disposed toconfront the shoulder 11 of the shell and interposed between the saidshoulders is a gasket or packing ring 16 which y may -be formed ofrubber -or any suitable fibrous material. l

The shell 10 ',a't its'upper extremity is internally screw threaded todetachably engage an externally screw-'thrgeaded collar 17 'the saidcollar beingv disposed to surround the plug 14n and being arranged toengage the shell, the plug, and the collar may be v readily detachedfrom each other.y

The inner extremity of the" plug 14 is preferably tapered toward itsfree end so that it may be easily' fitted within the reduced extremityof the shell 10, and formed in the plug adj acent opposite sidesthereof, are ,y longitudinally extending bores 19 arranged substantiallyparallel with the vertical axis of the plug and opening at theirextremities through the opposite end walls thereof.

Detachably mounted upon the plug 14 is an electrodewhich l haveillustrated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings and indicated as a whole at 20LMore particularly, the elecf trede 2O includes a threaded terminal 21which is bifurcated at its 'inner extremity to provide members 22extending laterally each side of the terminal 21, the memlbers 22 `attheir outer extremities being bent lto Provide opposltely disposed arms23 a1:-

ranged substantially parallel to each other. At their outer extremities,the arms 23 are screw threaded to detachably engage the sparkingterminals or points 24 .while the terminal 21 is disposer; toreceive asuitable thumb nut 25. i

1 As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the arms 23 of the electrodeare'disposed to extend through the bores 19 with the sparking terminals24 seating against the adjacent lower face of the 'plug and with themembers 22 of the electrode countersunk within the upper extremity 'ofthe plug. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the electrode 20 maybe readily detached from the plug 14 whendesired by removing thesparking terminals 24 and this is a very desirable feature of the;construction which I provide since shouldu the electrode 20 becomedamaged in use, it can be readily replaced. Inthis connection, it isalso to be observed that should the sparking terminals 24 -becomeburnt'in use or damaged, the said terminals may be readily detached andnew ones substituted therefor.

Removably fitted over the upper extremity of the plug 14 is a preferablymetallic cap 26, the said cap Surrounding the terminal 21 of theelectrode and providing a seat `for a conductor carrying a suitablesource of electrical energy and disposed to be connected lwith theterminal 21 by the nut 25.

Seated within the shell 10 at its outer extremity, are members 27 whichare bent to extend radially toward the axis of the'plug and providesparking-points 28 disposed to coperate with the sparking terminals 24of the electrode 20. -It will be observed that by turning the plug 14within the shell l0, that the distance between the sparking terminals 24and 28 may be adjusted to consequently regulate the length ofthe sparkgap between the :said points and that in thus turning the plug 14,simultaneous adjustment will be had between each of the terminals 24 andthe adjacent terminal 28 coperating therewith. f

As is well known, in the type of spark plug employing a single sparkgap, the sparking terminalsoften become sooted or burnt to render theplug ineilicientand in the provision of my improved plug employing anintegrally formed electrode having a lplurality of sparking terminals,the electrical current passing through the electrode is distributedbetween the said terminals so that the likelihood of the burning thereofis 'justed It will further be seen that I provide a construction whereina common electrode is employed for each of said gaps wliichmay bereadily detached to permit of 30 repair and wherein the sparkingterminals ,connected with the said electrode may also be eachdisconnected therefrom either to effect the removal of the saidelectrode from the plug or'to permit of repair or replace- 85 .ment ofthe said sparking terminals.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, thecombination with a shell having sparking points and an insulatingmember, of an electrode carried by the insulating member, said electrodeincluding a terminal disposed l for connection with a suitable source ofelectrical energy and bifurcated at one extremity to provide membersextending upon opi posite sides of the' terminal, said members beingthence bent to provide spaced arms-f\\ \u screw threaded adjacent their0135er/ extremities, `the electrode bginfj disposed to -seat upon theinsulatingmember with-the members ofthe electrode counter-sunk within-the upper end of the insulating member and with the arms of theelectrode extending through the said member, and sparking terminalsscrew threaded to engage the threaded extremities of said arms, saidsparking terminals being disposed to coperate with the sparking pointsof the shell.

2. A .device of the character described including a shell having membersarranged thereon providing sparking points, an insulating member carriedby the shell,` the said insulating member having longitudi- 1'15 nallyextending bores formed therein adjacent opposite sides, an electrodeincluding a', terminal disposed to receive a suitable conduit and havingspacedl arms extending from said terminal and disposed in said 120bores, andl sparking terminals detachably secured to the outerextremities of said arms and detachably connecting the electrode withthe insulating member,` said sparking terminals being disposed tocooperate with the sparking points carried by the shell.

3. @A device of the character described including a shell, an insulatingmember carried by the shell, members arranged upon the shell and'providing sparking points, a 13'0.

substantiallyv U-shapedelectrode having its arms extendingl through theinsulating memf" ber, and sparking points carried at the free ends ofsaid arms and detachably connecting the electrode with Athe saidinsulating member, said last mentioned sparking points being adapted tocoperate, with said first mentioned sparking points.A

.4. A device of the character described including a shell, an insulatingmember carried by the shell, members arranged upon ing member and havingspaced terminals,

and sparking points engaging said terminals and seating against the saidinsulating vmem'- ber for detachably connecting the electrode With theinsulating member, said last mentioned sparking points being adapted tocoact with' said first mentioned sparking points.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two'witnesses.

ADOLPH EGKHARDT.y [L s] Witnesses:

GEO. B. CAMPBELL,

H. H. SCHWAB.

Copies of this. patent may be obtained for-five cents each, vbyaddressing thel Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

